Replacing the US 60/65 interchange began with Design Concept Development. Engineers developed four interchange concept designs. The preferred concept was chosen based on factors such as congestion improvement, avoidance of nearby trails and cemeteries and economical layout. The goal was reconfiguring ramps to improve a driver’s ability to merge safely into traffic and eliminating the railroad crossing The preferred design meets all of these needs.

Throughout the process, MoDOT met with “stakeholders”, including area community leaders, and sponsored public meetings and hearings to discuss issues and concerns. Information gained from these meetings and from comments and questions submitted through this web site have helped determine project priorities. They include determining what ramps, roadways or bridges should be fixed first and how to manage traffic during construction.

Some of the concerns are obvious. Traffic volumes continue to increase, making traffic flow a critical issue. So is the at-grade railroad crossing on US 60 on the west end of the interchange. Short merging distances between cloverleaf ramps cause traffic backups, slowdowns and crashes. Caring for our beautiful Ozarks environment must be taken into consideration. These challenges are displayed on our Needs and Constraints Map.

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